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11 Oct 2010

CHOCOLATE.

Yes, yes! I know it's Monday and my posting about something other than the week-ends newspapers will leave me confused as well but hey, a blogger's gotta do what a blogger's gotta do and in this instance a blogger has to post about something of the utmost importance - Chocolate week. Yeah.

Running here in the Uk from today until the 20th of October, "Chocolate Week is a time of pure indulgence involving the country's best chocolatiers and chocolate shops holding events all over the UK" and needless to say I'll be joining in the fun. Ok, so its not as if I attended the ACADEMY OF CHOCOLATE CONFERENCE which was held in London on Saturday but I did support it in the best way I could ------- yes, you guessed, by eating chocolate. As I said a bloggers gotta to do ........

BUT not wanting to miss out on the papers altogether, there were several chocolate (what else) related stories.

Firstly, something of deep concern to me:-

A chocolate-flavoured wine (a term offensive to both chocolate and wine connoisseurs don't you agree?) is set to hit the shelves as recession-hit Brits go 'loco for cocoa'.

The £7.99 red is 15 per cent alcohol and infused with real choc.

It has been launched amid news that Brits spent over £3.6 billion on chocolate (I wonder how much of that is down to yours truly?) as we opt for low-cost food. Demand has even led to other foods being flavoured with the treat - such as Christmas cake (surely that is just a chocolate cake as opposes to the traditional fruit cake?) and salted pretzels.

(What's that?) Choc wine was in (fact) invented in 1710 but the recipe fell out of use until it was revised by a British chef in 2008.

A spokeswoman for Marks And Spencer (M&S) which is to sell the Chocolate Ruby drink said: 'Chocolate and wine all in one glass (yuk! Oh hang on that was me) - what more could a lady want? (Another box of chocolates instead of the wine?) But men love it too.'

Retail analysts Mintel found 87% of men often eat it as do 91% of women.- Jane Hamilton, the Sun.

As to the question what more could a lady want? How about chocolate with none of the calories? And I mean NO calories. Sound too good to be true? How about LE WHIF: A chocolate inhaler?

It is the chocoholic's dream - a sweet treat that gives all the joy of chocolate without any of the calories.

Scientists have created an inhaler packed with tiny particles of chocolate.

A whiff or two gives all the pleasure of chocolate without any of the guilt, or so its designers from Harvard University claim.

With our 25th wedding anniversary being next September Husband dearest and I are planning what to do/where to go. Perhaps the answer lies here with the perfect holiday for chocoholics.

Bournemouth. The family owned CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE HOTEL is a chocolate lover's dream. Immortalise yourself in chocolate at a chocolate portrait painting session run by top chocolatier Gerry Wilton, who owns and runs the world's first chocolate themed hotel.

At Gerry's unique Grade II listed Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth, you can learn how to paint a portrait of yourself in dark, milk and white chocolate; stay in chocolate-themed rooms; and indulge in the culinary art of making delicious Belgian truffles by hand at one of Gerry's Chocolate Delight workshops.

There are also chocolate fountains, a chance to learn all about the history of chocolate and a Chocolate Bar, where you can treat yourself to a glorious handmade chocolate cocktail.

You can even learn how to match chocolate with wine and spirits in a unique chocolate tasting session inspired by the famous Belgian chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud, whose range of chocolates is designed to be eaten and tasted with wines such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as mulled wines, dessert wines and malt whisky. - the Sun.

OR ....... A little further afield, how about ........? (click HERE for details.)

And last but by no means least (drum roll if you please) ........... my favourite chocolate add.

Must go to chocolate hotel! Although I think the chocolate inhaler won't work for me. I need me some real chocolate!And speaking of, I am upset with you. I have 8 chocolate bars to last me until December 19, and I've been doing SO good at rationing, but after reading your post, I found that I was inspired and ate an entire half a bar in one sitting. oops!

Oh by all means...I definitely understand! ^_^ Chocolate is one of those universal things...most people love it in some form or another. Sad to say I have seen the chocolate flavored wine in the states as well as a chocolate wine bottle....go figure!

I am a big time Chocolate lover - but i consume them in moderation.A small piece of it every night with my cup of milk.Now that i know it is chocolate week (thanks to your post)i think i will eat a big chunky piece of chocolate pastry ...just to celebrate :)

AW! I'm so sorry that I didn't specify about the contest! This one unfortunately isn't international, but I have a soft spot in my heart for the UK and future contests will be international, as they will be through the book depository. I"m sorry!

So is your husband as much of a chocoholic as you are?? I've always thought it would be fun to visit Hershey, Pennsylvania here in the US. I've heard the entire town smells like chocolate.

I love the smell and taste of chocolate, but dare I admit here that I'm not really a chocoholic? Given the choice between chocolate and vanilla flavorings, more often than not I'll choose the vanilla. It all depends on what food item and my mood at the moment.

TRANSLATE

LITTLE KITTY THE CAT BURGLAR {CHAPTER 1 WRITTEN BY YOURS TRULY}

THE MEMBER OF A VERY SPECIAL TRIBE.

A Geordie lass, rumoured to have been born with a paperback in my hand, I spend my days reading and reviewing books here on Pen and Paper. A lover of hedgehogs as well as cats, I also enjoy writing and receiving letters and am quite the movie buff. My taste in films almost as eclectic as my tastes in novels!

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ADOPTED 26TH APRIL 2014.

A GEORDIE LASS AN' PROUD OF IT.

As Douglas Adams almost said, ‘Far away in the uncharted backwaters of the once unfashionable North-East of England lies an often-unregarded civilisation. Orbiting this at a distance of a few hundred miles is the rest of the British Isles. The life forms inhabiting this area are often thought of as primitive as they still think wearing warm clothing is a pretty sissy thing to do.’

TIS TRUE, I ONLY HAVE A KITCHEN BECAUSE IT CAME WITH THE HOUSE.

THE READING LOG OF YOURS TRULY .....

CURRENTLY READING ... Zelda's Cut by Philippa Gregory

LAST READ ...Carved In Bone by Jefferson Bass

NEXT ... Ginger Kid by Steve Hofstetter

TOTAL NUMBER OF BOOKS READ & REVIEWED ... 974*

TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES READ AND REVIEWED ... 271,441

NUMBER OF BOOKS READ & REVIEWED ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER ... 13**

* These totals are a record ALL books read from the onset of Pen and Paper in April 2009 including those received from authors/publishers both pre and post January 2018 to the present day.

** This total is a record of all books read and reviewed on behalf of the author/publisher SINCE January 2018 to the present day. TT